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Original poster

I would like to buy your house

101 replies

WatchyMcWatchdog · 22/05/2019 13:34

There's a house in my village which I've had my eye on for a long time. It's owned by an older couple (early 60s) who have lived there for over 25 years. It's not in great condition but it's in a lovely part of the village, is good size with a big garden. Nothing else in the village matches our requirements but I absolutely appreciate it may well continue to meet theirs now and in the future. I would like to put a note through their door and be as polite as possible about it. Here's my current draft:

Dear Homeowners,

Apologies for contacting you out of the blue. We hope you don't mind us taking this direct approach of writing to you to see if you might be interested in selling your house at all?

We have taken the unusual step of contacting you as we are a local couple with young children who are very keen to stay living in the village. We have been looking for a long term family home in [village] for the last 2 years. Our children are # and # and we would love them to have a house with the space to play in and a garden big enough to run around in. From the outside it looks as though your house would be great for that. I am [involved in local thing] so living within walking distance of it whilst they grow up would be lovely for our daughters.
We would really like to hear from you if you are thinking of selling, or perhaps keep our details if you are considering moving in the near future. We haven’t contacted any other homeowners as we think yours is just right so if you aren’t looking to sell if you could let us know we would really appreciate it.

Thank you for taking the time to read our letter.

WatchMcWatchdog

OP posts:

Dontupsettheneighbours · 22/05/2019 14:34

I'm in my 60s and I live in a big scruffy village house. On my own. If I received any of those drafts I'd laugh. If I wanted to sell then I'd tell the agent it was £10k more to you.
It looks like you're trying to get a bargain by cutting out the agent. These people know exactly what their house is worth and they'll probably sell it to a builder to build a cul de sac of new homes in the big garden. When they want to move. If you really think it's the only house for you, go and ask an agent to approach them anonymously.

JustSomebodie · 22/05/2019 14:35

Draft 3 is perfect!

springgreensunshine · 22/05/2019 14:35

Take out the part about them letting you know if they don't want to sell. If they don't want to sell they don't need to contact you at all.

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Property

JustSomebodie · 22/05/2019 14:36

@RubberTreePlant the “at all” refers to whether the owner is interested in selling the house - partially interested, very interested, not interested at all, etc.

Janus · 22/05/2019 14:39

Draft 3 is fine, definitely don’t need all the information in other drafts. They may get bored reading it all else and miss the point of the letter!

pencilpot99 · 22/05/2019 14:40

My Dad did this with the old lady that lived next door to us. She never replied to the letter he posted through her door but she obviously kept it. When she died her nephew, who was her executor, got in touch with him and eventually sold my Dad the house. You never know! (But you may end up waiting a while.)

holdupthere · 22/05/2019 14:45

Agree with PP. all that guff about your kids makes it seem as though you don't think they, (Young)child free couple, deserve such a lovely big house

Drogosnextwife · 22/05/2019 14:48

Why have you got 2 different threads running about this OP?

LorelaiRoryEmily · 22/05/2019 14:50

God I wouldn’t send a letter like that at all. I think it’s very cheeky

Foxmuffin · 22/05/2019 14:52

My husband has bought a house this way. Doesn’t hurt to enquire at all.

RubberTreePlant · 22/05/2019 14:52

@RubberTreePlant the “at all” refers to whether the owner is interested in selling the house - partially interested, very interested, not interested at all, etc

Well, then it should be "....if you are at all interested in selling the house."

However, that is still silly and wheedling. (Does OP really want to hear from them if they are only very mildly interested?) Leave it out.

stucknoue · 22/05/2019 14:54

I wouldn't mention your children's ages or your job, just simply say you are a local family in the village looking for a larger home and if they are likely to wish to sell in the near future please contact you and you could avoid estate agent fees. Anything more personal could be considered to be coercive by their family if they don't agree with the sale

MaidenMotherCrone · 22/05/2019 14:55

I'd be putting up a big fence if I received that letter.

LetsSplashMummy · 22/05/2019 14:57

It's all about you, I'd replace all the stuff about your wants and needs and instead say: we'll pay market value, you can avoid advertising etc. save money on fees, no rush, no pressure just keep us in mind. You need to put yourself in their shoes, not try and force them into yours.

Nesssie · 22/05/2019 15:00

to see if you might be interested in selling your house at all? I don't like this. I would change it to 'if in the future you are thinking of selling, please keep my details' etc

ChinUpChestOut · 22/05/2019 15:08

I'm going against the grain here and say I think you should keep in the personal information. There's nothing wrong in introducing yourself a little - you might easily share that information if you were waiting at a bus stop together.

I'm late fifties and starting to think about downsizing. I would like my home to be lived in by a family, and appreciated by a family and not torn down, or massively renovated by a developer. And you saying you want to stay living in this village which you enjoy would also matter to me.

Write in your voice - you're not an estate agent, you're not a developer, you're a mum looking for the next home for her family.

Foxmuffin · 22/05/2019 15:09

Far too much thought going into critiquing this letter. It was fine. They won’t sell if they don’t want to anyway.

Thinking of it we got a letter from someone when we bought a property along those lines. They liked our house but we beat them to it. They came it see it after we renovated it and bought us a bottle of wine.

iamhereiamhappy · 22/05/2019 15:09

To be honest I'd tell you to bugger off. Wouldn't like the idea that someone local is after my home, the one that I've quite possibly raised my family in and lived in for decades. I think it comes across as very entitled that you think just by saying "hey, we've got some money and I want your house" that I would "yes of course, let me just sell up for you!"
Many people have to compromise when buying houses. You can't always get what you want.

RubberTreePlant · 22/05/2019 15:10

@LetsSplashMummy has nailed it,

AssangesCat · 22/05/2019 15:11

My parents are in their early 70's and have a large garden and two spare bedrooms and they would think you were a mad stalker.

I think they would tolerate a straightforward "if you're ever thinking of selling, please contact us", all the guff about your children sounds a bit like you think you deserve their house more than they do.

The beautiful garden is their pride and joy. They love having the grandchildren round to play and explore in the garden. My brother and I have both been thankful of the two spare bedrooms and moved in for months between us, me and my family when we re-located, my brother and his family when they had extensive building work done on their own house.

SuperSara · 22/05/2019 15:15

Are you offering £XXk over the market price?

If so, tell them that.

If not, I'd throw your letter in the bin if I was them to be quite honest.

TwistedBiscuit · 22/05/2019 15:15

Take out the part about them letting you know if they don't want to sell. If they don't want to sell they don't need to contact you at all.

This. I think it puts too much of an obligation on them. If I got a letter that asked for a reply, I'd be a bit put out because I'd feel rude if I didn't respond (also for all they know you might be a complete weirdo who'd then write back to them arguing, or come and knock on the door to argue with you ).

Growing up we used to always get agents' circulars through the door asking whether we wanted to sell. It's fine. But if they'd expected a response it wouldn't be!

catdogoifrog · 22/05/2019 15:16

My parents got a note through the door and my dad text back saying they are looking to sell for £xxxx. If they wanted to come and see please give him a call. They never heard back !

I expect the cost of a small country place was a shock. My parents had had valuations recently, but I personally think they probably over priced it.

Dontupsettheneighbours · 22/05/2019 15:16

But you still might be a developer, or a BTLL (and what's wrong with either of those anyway if they pay the price?) they can't tell can they? Living in a "desirable" house you get very used to this kind of thing, everyone wants to be the one to "spot" a perfect house but the reality is that the more desirable the house the more the open market is the way to go. And personally I'd far rather pay £10k to an agent than have the hassle of dealing direct with buyers. It's a pretty personal transaction selling your home and a bit of distance can be good.

Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis · 22/05/2019 15:18

Make an offer, and leave out all the guff. Email or phone number to reply to.

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